2016 VASO by Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Dalla Valle, BOND: The list of truly iconic wines from Napa Valley is short and sweet. Firmly on that list is Dana Estates, the Rutherford winery that has beguiled collectors from all over the world since its founding in 2005.

Nestled at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains and growing Bordeaux varieties at four exquisite vineyards around Napa Valley, Dana produces small lots of distinctive, world-class wines. Our Head of Wine, Vanessa Conlin MW, used to work at Dana Estates, which means we’ve gotten a rare level of access to Dana’s cellar. 

Perhaps the biggest reward of that access has been VASO, which was never meant to be sold. For years, it was reserved for friends and family of the winery, a special treat that showcases Dana’s uncompromising quality at an affordable price.

Hailing from a 98-point vintage, the 2016 VASO Cabernet centers on Dana’s Hershey Vineyard, an incredible site that sits above the fog line high on Howell Mountain. The small, intensely flavored berries from Hershey deliver smoky minerality, black currant and blackberry, forest floor, tar, and anise, along with lithe mountain tannins. Lotus Vineyard in Napa, rooted on incredibly steep slopes, provides rich blueberry, black cherry, incense, and exotic spices, with full plush tannins and a robust body. Finally, the west-facing Crystal Springs vineyard, also in the Napa AVA, provides a round, voluptuous mouthfeel.

Composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Merlot all aged for 22 months in Ermitage, Taransaud, and other French oak barrels, this is the kind of Cabernet that Vanessa fell in love with working at the winery—and one we're thrilled to share with you.